Greg Sorbara is a very high profile member of the provincial liberals and a former mpp . his comments will have to be taken seriously by the provincial liberals , if he doesn't think she could win a province wide election he wouldn't of came out publically with these comments .

although I still personally think she plans to stick around as long as possible and if she planned to resign , she would of done so already

she clearly doesn't care about the by elections the liberals lost or the polls which say her approval rating is historically low

Maybe? She could also be thinking that it's better for the next leader to not be in power too long before the next election. This time of year also isn't ideal for a resignation. Better for an unpopular premier to deliver an unpopular budget and wait for the legislature to close before resigning.

Although she does seem more determined than some when rejecting calls for her resignation.

Kathleen Wynne
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne's speaks during a press conference regarding the political fundraising question at Queen's Park in Toronto on Monday, April 11, 2016. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has seen a historic slump in her job-approval ratings as Ontarians continue to fret over increased hydro bills and the sale of the Hydro One utility, says new polling by the Angus Reid Institute released Friday.

With a 2018 election looming, the provincial Liberal Premier has the endorsement of only 12 per cent of voters, down from a 41-per-cent approval rating just 18 months ago, the Angus Reid Institute survey revealed.

The institute’s executive director, Shachi Kurl, said Ms. Wynne has sunk to depths almost never seen among provincial premiers in recent history, with only former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell dropping below 10 per cent before he resigned in November, 2010.

“There is no way to sugar-coat this, it’s not a good situation for the Premier,” Ms. Kurl said. “But clearly, based on what we’re seeing and hearing, there may be some continuing belief that the Premier herself, or the party can turn things around” before an election that is scheduled for June, 2018.

In surveying premiers’ approval ratings, the Angus Reid Institute polled 5,404 Canadians, including 804 Ontario residents. The survey was conducted between March 6 and March 13, just after Ms. Wynne’s government announced it would reduce hydro rates by an average of 25 per cent for households, and more for people in rural areas and small towns that were hardest hit by rate hikes over the past decade.

“I would suggest people really hadn’t had the opportunity to absorb whether or not they feel this is something that will credibly give them some relief, and whether or not it is enough at this stage,” Ms. Kurl said.

“You can reach a point with the electorate where a level of cynicism or a level of hardening sets in and no matter what is done, there’s no turning things around.”

Most premiers saw a decline in their approval ratings this month compared with last December.

Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall – who continues to rank as the country’s most popular premier – saw his support drop to 52 per cent from a recent high of 66 per cent last May. British Columbia’s Christy Clark – who faces an election in May – had an approval rating of just 31 per cent, down 4 percentage points from December amid revelations of her Liberal Party’s controversial fundraising tactics.

But none are even approaching Ms. Wynne’s 12 per cent. And Ms. Kurl suggests voters’ anger over soaring hydro rates is a big factor. Average residential rates have doubled in the past decade, and risen ever further in less-densely-populated and remote regions.

Three-quarters of Ontario respondents (74 per cent) describe their household energy bills as “unreasonable” and a similar number expect the Hydro One sale to increase their rates even further. (Hydro One is the province’s main transmission utility that also directly serves households in rural Ontario.)

Indeed, 27 per cent of respondents identified “energy/electricity” as the largest problem facing the province, with “the economy” a distant second at 16 per cent. And more than three-quarters of respondents said their household electricity bills and the sale of Hydro One would be important or somewhat important issues for them when they vote in the 2018 provincial election.

However, 62 per cent said they would factor in the Wynne government’s plan to reduce hydro bills when they go to the polls in the general election

Give Wynne credit -- she took the 'poisoned chalice' that McGuinty handed her, and won another majority. But she has been the one in charge when all of McGuinty's chickens came home to roost.

Is there anyone else in the Liberal party who can take what has turned into a bag of shit that Wynne will hand off, and run with it like she has?

That person now has 20 months to turn things around.

I think she wants to stick around as long is possible which sounds crazy considering the polling numbers , but I don't realistically see how she can survive if her approval drops below 10 % that would be very hard for any politician to do

whats really shocking is none of the liberal mpp's in caucus are calling for her to step down publically , either there scared of being demoted or left out from funding announcements I don't know but the level of loyalty for such an unpopular leader is really unheard of

The month before she resigned this same Angus Reid poll placed Kathy Dunderdale's support at 24%, she was the least popular premier in the country. However, there was no talk within caucus - and little in the grassroots - about the need for Dunderdale to resign because she was so well respected.

Despite her approval ratings, many Ontario Liberal politicians and members probably have a similar respect for Wynne. Most of those Liberal MPPs know that if it wasn't for Wynne they wouldn't have a job. She won them the last election. (Prior to winning her own mandate Christy Clarke's caucus was pretty unsettled. After she led them to an impressive come-from-behind victory there was no more unrest)

There's probably one big difference with Dunderdale though, we all knew she was going to resign eventually. She wasn't the type of politician who had a big ego and she wasn't going to put herself ahead of the party. And even if her popularity hadn't tanked she was unlikely to seek another mandate.

Like Wynne, Dunderdale said she wasn't resigning weeks before she ultimately did. She did use to say though that she'd know when it was time to retire.

Maybe Liberals in Ontario see Wynne the same way? To me, she doesn't sound like a politician who's going down without a fight. But that may just be her trying to show confidence until she ultimately decides to go.

Dogged by questions about her political future, Premier Kathleen Wynne found herself on the defensive about her rock-bottom approval ratings Friday.

Set to address media on a meeting with auto industry leaders, Wynne slammed the breaks on her message track to address a new Angus Reid poll that put approval rating at 12%, down from a high of 41% in Sept. 2014.

And that finding comes three weeks after the premier announced a 17% hydro rate reduction to help bolster her flagging popularity.

The gambit may not have helped according to the poll, but Wynne says she is determined to stay on and fight in the 2018 election next June.

“People haven’t seen the impact on their bills yet,” Wynne said. “But with all of that, I have a job to do. I made a commitment to the people of Ontario in 2014. I’m doing that job and I’m going to continue to do that job.”

Wynne was also questioned about comments from former Liberal finance minister Greg Sorbara on TVO earlier this week, suggesting the premier may want to consider stepping down because she is “extremely unlikely” to win the next election. Sorbara, who managed two majority government-winning campaigns for former premier Dalton McGuinty, said Wynne’s approval ratings will be difficult to turn.

Wynne dismissed Sorbara’s comments as “punditry.”

“Punditry is a wonderful thing,” she said. “Retired politicians engaging in punditry is an even more wonderful thing. I will leave Greg and whoever else to their opinions. There’s no secret there have always been people in the Liberal Party who weren’t keen on me. That’s a reality.”

Economic Development Brad Duguid jumped to Wynne’s defence during the press conference, saying she still has the confidence of her caucus. Energy rates have become a “lightning rod” for general discontent in the province and that has impacted Wynne’s approvals, he said.

“(Wynne) is focusing on the things that matter to Ontarians,” he said. “That’s why our caucus members are so firmly behind this Premier and why we’re confident that she will not only lead us into the next election, she will help us once again win that next election.”

( more bad news for Wynne , they still haven't found a candidate for the Soo by election and its not clear if the candidate will be high profile or not when they finally do and it appears she is delaying the vote as long as possible )

Search continues for Liberal byelection candidate as support for Wynne plummets

The president of the local Liberal riding association says the process of selecting a candidate in the yet-to-be-called provincial byelection is still moving forward, even as the popularity of Ontario’s premier is plummetting.

Richard Fiacconi, president of the Sault Ste. Marie Provincial Liberal Association, said the search for a local Liberal candidate to stand in an upcoming byelection continues.

“We are still searching and waiting on candidates. I know it’s moving into March and whatnot, but people need to find support and maybe have their own team,” said Fiacconi.

The byelection will be called by June 30 to replace former Liberal MPP David Orazietti, who stepped down from provincial politics at the end of December.

Today, a poll by Angus Reid Institute (ARI) showed support by Ontarians for Premier Kathleen Wynne, leader of the Liberal Party, has dropped to just 12 per cent.

Additionally, 75 per cent of Ontarians polled by ARI said their electricity bill is unreasonable and 82 per cent said they oppose the ongoing sale of shares in HydroOne to private investors.

77 per cent of those polled said their own household electricity bills will be a factor when deciding who to vote for in the 2018 election.

Fiacconi said he would like to see the byelection called sooner than later, but selection of a candidate will come first.

“I don’t think they would call a snap election on us,” said Fiacconi.

The potential Liberal candidates are being given time to consider running and Fiacconi said the association is waiting on their responses.

“I am not trying to call them everyday, it does take a little time to organize or decide on things,” he said.

After the association makes a selection, said Fiacconi, the party will complete their own vetting process.

Earlier this month, city councillor Matthew Shoemaker said he had decided not to seek a nomination for the byelection under the Liberal flag.

Fiacconi recognizes the longer it takes for the byelection to be called, the less time the eventual winning candidate for the riding will serve at Queen’s Park until the 2018 election.

“I know it could be only another year for the general election, but that is what we have and we’re trying to deal with that,” he said.

Ontario PC candidate Ross Romano and NDP candidate Joe Krmpotich have both said publicly that Kathleen Wynne should call the byelection in the near future.

The constituency office for Sault Ste. Marie riding, which was formerly occupied by Orazietti, moved today from it’s Great Northern Road location to a new office in the Paul Mall on Queen Street East and will reopen Tuesday.

( more bad news for wynne some of her mpp's aren't even sure if they'll run again , speaker of the legislature Dave Levac is unsure at this time )

Levac yet to decide on re-election bid

By Michael-Allan Marion, Brantford Expositor

Friday, March 24, 2017 9:34:34 EDT PM

Brant MPP Dave Levac says he has yet to decide if he will seek re-election in the June 2018 provincial election.

Levac, also Speaker of the legislature, said in an interview that he will follow his usual process of speaking first with his wife, Rosemarie, and their grown children to determine how they feel about him committing to a sixth run for the Liberals in the reconfigured riding of Brantford-Brant.

Then he will speak with officials in the riding association and Premier Kathleen Wynne to hear their opinions.

"I haven't done any of those yet," he said.

"I put a great deal of weight on what they have to say."

He said that the opinions of his wife and children are of particular importance.

Levac, a former teacher and school principal, broke into politics with a successful run in 1999. He followed that up with victories in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2014.

The race already is taking shape.

The Progressive Conservatives will nominate a candidate on April 8. Seeking the nomination Brantford businessman and former city councillor Mark Littell, Brant County Coun. Willem Bouma and businessman and pastor Suleman Khokhar.

The New Democrats have established a search committee for a candidate, and the Green Party is gearing up for an annual general meeting next month.

Meantime, Rob Ferguson, a 42-year-old small businessman, will be the Libertarian Party's candidate in Brantford-Brant. As his party's deputy leader, he ran in the new riding in the 2015 federal election.

He said he believes there will be a lot of interest in provincial election.

"People are already talking about this election and I'm ready to go" he said in an interview Tuesday. "It's going to be one of the most heated and contested elections in years.

"The Liberals have really shot themselves in the foot. People are worried about the rising cost of living the cost of education and many other things."

The New Democrats are seeing interest from prospective candidates, said Tim Deelstra, president of the party's Brantford-Brant Ontario riding association, who by the rules is not a member of the search committee.

"The party believes it is important that candidates reflect the people of Ontario," he said.

The Brant Greens annual general meeting is scheduled for April 20 at the Brantford and District Labour Centre. The doors open at 7 p.m., the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Green Leader Mike Schreiner will be the guest speaker.

The riding association is still looking for a candidate.

Ken Burns, who ran for the Greens in the 2014 election, said he has yet to decide if he will run again.

"We want to ensure that we put forward the best candidate we can," he said.

Wynne’s approval rating has dropped to a new all-time low of just 12%, according to a poll released by the Angus Reid Institute Friday.

Shachi Kurl, executive director of the Angus Reid Institute said, “We tend to see premiers offering up their resignations or quitting politics when their approval levels get to this point.”

Indeed, in September of 2012 an Angus Reid poll revealed, “32% of respondents said they approved of Dalton McGuinty’s performance.” The next month McGuinty — Wynne’s predecessor — stepped down.

In public Wynne’s caucus supports her.

But it is telling that each week as Liberal MPP Arthur Potts (Beaches-East York) appears on my NEWSTALK1010 radio show, his response to my constant badgering of him over Wynne’s polling numbers is to repeat that while her numbers are low, he insists that the Liberal’s policies and actions are popular.

When asked if that means that it would make sense for the party to throw Wynne off the boat and elect a new leader, presenting the fresh face they insisted Wynne was when McGuinty left, he insists that is not the plan.

What is the plan?

Wynne announced that our hydro bills would go down by 25% by adding to the bills our children will pay. Yet her numbers dropped.

Her response was, “People haven’t seen the impact on their bills yet. But you know with all of that, I have a job to do. I made a commitment to the people of Ontario in 2014, I’m doing that job and I’m going to continue to do that job.”

“That job,” is drawing unprecedented low approval, yet she soldiers on as if all is well. It is dysfunctional.

Meanwhile on Friday the government announced, “Ontario is continuing to boost income for workers across the province by increasing the general minimum wage for the fourth consecutive year, which will bring the wage up to $11.60 this fall.”

Will an extra 20 cents an hour tip more low income people back into Wynne’s camp? How will it impact business owners?

Both the minimum wage and the hydro price change are attempts to win support by spending other people’s money, and for a change it appears not to be working.

The recent poll found 82% of those surveyed oppose the sale of shares in Hydro One to private investors, while 74% described their electricity bills as “very unreasonable” or “fairly unreasonable.”

Those numbers are so high it is certain that even those who might regularly support the Liberals are angry over hydro issues.

The decisions your government makes matter. Hopefully enough voters realize that treating politics like a team sport is dangerous. Being a liberal shouldn’t be like being a Leafs fan.

Supporting a sports team through thick and thin is admirable; that’s what fans do. Doing the same with a political party is counter-productive, and perhaps these recent poll numbers show citizens realize that.

Maybe Liberals in Ontario see Wynne the same way? To me, she doesn't sound like a politician who's going down without a fight. But that may just be her trying to show confidence until she ultimately decides to go.

There was always a risk selecting a leader from within Dalton McGunity's caucus;
Not only did he vanish in the dead of the night, but four other Liberal Ministers also resigned at the same time which was a few days after the opposition parties passed a contempt motion against the energy minister.

Anyone left risked having to wear that mess if they stayed.

If I was guessing I would think that from the Premiers perspective, she inherited a huge huge huge mess from the last guy and as Bugs stated above she ran that mess for a touchdown and a majority government and should be allowed to serve out her mandate.

If that was the case, I don't blame her.

We are getting to the 11th hour here;
Even if she wanted to step down, would she prorogue Parliament like her predecessor did so they could hold a leadership race?

Even if they did, the last leadership election which was held at lightspeed was still over three months to organize and hold after Dalton McGuinty resigned.

Which plunks us into August with an election the following June;
That is tight.

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